Mt. Washington Cog Railway New Diesel Locomotive

[bcschmerker]

The turbo-supercharged and aftercooled John Deere engine in this Diesel-hydraulic locomotive can burn a number of liquid fuels compatible with Diesel technology. Would have liked to see an upgraded geared steamer, too, for a larger variety of solid fuels than the woods and coals used over two centuries; ideally, she'd burn trash and not smoke everybody out in the process, given proper air bias in the firebox.

[donnactrc]

Pikes Peak moved away from Steam engines many years ago-and they survived. Looks like the engines are John Deeres. Good Luck, TomC

[NJPurling]

It is really very simple: Aging boilers cost a truckload of $ to fix.

A boiler in full steam is a bomb you NEVER want to go off.

If the rest of the locomotive is not totally fatigued you can have a new boiler rolled and welded, which may be better than repair of the old one.

[AntiFederalist1]

Miserable PoS travesty tractors.

I don't need to pay a couple hundred bucks (what it works out to cost with the family) to be pushed up the side of the mountain by this abomination. I can stay home and drive the kids around in the backhoe for nothing.

I really hope ridership has fallen off enough so that the chowderheads in management at the railroad put these things out to pasture where they belong and go back to all steam operations.

[is1943]

This is just an ugly tin shed, I am glad I rode this line in 1983 when it was steam.

[KC0TLV]

*ugh* I understand the expense of running and upkeep and all of that, but for me and probably many many other train buffs, the main part of the hill climb attraction was the steam engines.

Tis a sad day to see that they are being retired. Not so sure I'd want to make the rail trip again - just take the auto road next time.

[clank4001]

@KC0TLV train buffs dont pay the bills, tourists do, so to stay in business, they do what they have to do

[clank4001]

Pretty expensive to run steam. I'd rather hace diesel cog than no cog. I kind of like em!

[ElevatorMatt]

Those "engines" are the worst things to come to that railway. Absolutely horrible.

[boberttrain831]

That thing is a disgrace even to diesels. As said before, it's like paying to be pushed up the mountain by a John Deere. They would really give up the steam locomotives for this? I really hate it when railroads try to "go green." Kills all the nostalgia.

[gp40mc]

What is the matter with them!!!!!!!??? I was so mad when I found out about this. Whosever idea it was to replace the steam engines needs to be put in an insane asylum! I assume they will keep a few steamers for use on special occasions but what will happen to the others? Will they be scapped?

[jdgator95]

I'm angry at them too! What are they thinking!! They will keep a few steamers but the others will probably be scrapped or just left to rust away

[cogger44]

talk to wayne presby. hes the owner and this is his decision.

[gp40mc]

Wanye huh? I'm sure its cheaper to run diesels but still. This is such a famous railroad and one of the few to run with steam. I'm mad at Wanye. Of course if they were going to lose so much money they would have to shut down then thats better because diesels are better than nothing.

[cogger44]

they werent loosing a dime. wayne was just not making as much as he would like to, for instance he dropped 15000$ on a turbocharged engine for his yellow automatic corvette just for kicks. he bought the mt washington hotel with the money he made from steamers, and he made EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS selling his share. thats the kind of greed were dealing with.

[gp40mc]

wow! I wonder if the switch to diesel is going to pay off. I'll bet there were lots of steam fans that came from far away to ride up mt washington in front of a steam engine. I'll bet buisiness from railfans went down a lot.

[adfgfds]

@gp40mc

Its not their fault. They were told to do this by the State. The State made a new pollution law that prohibits them to use the steam engines. They only get to use the steam engines once in a while now :/

[MARINECORPS1251]

@gp40mc the steamers are really old... they will be preserved, probably put on display somewhere

[FooshkWeed]

Oh wow. I didn't know they were replacing the old steam cars on the cog railway. That makes me sad, as it was those, along with the Conway Scenic RR that made me broaden my horizons from subway cars to everything else. :<

[MainlineProductions1]

Soon the only steam cog railway in the world will be gone!

[Moepabc]

in Germany there is a great steam train in the Harz mountains which goes up to the summit of the Brocken (it isnt as high as Mt Washington).

[WhyAyeMann]

Ive always wanted to go there. Sadly, I havent made the trip to Europe yet. Sadder yet about the steam engines on the cog railway here in New Hampshire :(

[Moepabc]

i was at mt washington too, but i went up by bus...

[TrainManTy]

GO AWAY DIESELS! I can't believe the Cog Railway is doing this - the steam locomotives are so iconic and historic, and taking them away is souring many fans and tourists who want to ride on them. And they're downright ugly too!

[jdgator95]

I completely agree, people lined up to have their pictures taken in front of the historic steam locomotive, many of whom never saw a steam train before and probably never will again. People can go see a diesel engine anywhere, it's nothing special, rare, or exciting, unlike those steamers. The cog just doesn't get it.

[adfgfds]

@jdgator95

Its not their fault. They were told to do this by the State. The State made a new pollution law that prohibits them to use the steam engines. They only get to use the steam engines once in a while now :/

[lrichardm]

@adfgfds Guys, steam locomotives are exempted from the pollution law you cite.